Vending and amusement device



0d. 7, 1958 F G N 2,855,124

VENDING MED AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Oct. 26, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 //\/L/ N 773/? Theodore A 6227.5 mer MMJM Oct. 7, 1958 T. F. GENSMER VENDING AND AMUSEMENT DEVICE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 26, 1953 K958 T. F. GENSMER VENDING AND AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed 001:. 26, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 72204076 f ensmer United States Patent VENDING AND AMUSEMENT DEVICE Theodore F. Gensmer, Portland, 0reg.; Orville T. Geusmer, executor of the estate of said Theodore F. Gensmer, deceased 4 Application October 26, 1953, Serial No. 388,219

4 Claims. (Cl. 221-24) This invention relates to a dispensing and amusement device employing a mechanically operated agent to receive and discharge articles to be dispensed or otherwise used in the operation of the device.

An object of the present invention is to provide a dispensing or amusement device employing an animated figure which is especially attractive to children, arranged to perform a series of acts or movements involving handling of a commodity to be dispensed or game pieces to be dealt with in the operation of the device, wherein the figure is manipulated by the operator.

Another object is to provide a dispensing device utilizing an article holding and delivering means which are reloaded after each dispensing operation in readiness for a succeeding dispensing operation.

Another object is to provide a dispensing or amusement device utilizing a visible animated figure for conveying articles to be dispensed or used in a game, the figure while at rest always holding one of the articles in view in an inviting position to attract customers or patrons.

A further object is to provide slide means having rectilinear motion for operating article holding means from a loading position to a discharge position in a combined pivoting and tipping movement.

Another object is to provide a mechanism for operating article holding means wherein a coin forms a mechanical connection between operative parts thereof.

Another object is to provide coin inlet means which reject slugs or coins not of a predetermined denomination.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated herein as a guru dispensing device, although it may be utilized for dispensing other articles. The mechanism preferably employs an animated figure as a transfer agent for dispensing'the articles, and is enclosed in a housing having transparent side walls so that a customer canreadily observe movements of the animated figure. As shown'herein, the figure resembles a dog which first assumes a begging position and then holds a gum ball in its month until a coin is inserted in the mechanism and an operating handle pulled for a dispensing operation. The animated figure is thereby actuated for pivotal and bowing movement by a slide having reciprocal, rectilinear motion. The figure is held in normally upright begging position by means of a downwardly extending spring pressedpost. The slide is connected to anauxiliary slide and operating handle through a coin lock mechanism so that movement of the slide is accomplished only after insertion of a coin of predetermined denomination. Spring means are provided to return the slides and handle to rest position whereby the animated figure pivots to a right angle position to receive a gum ball from a storage receptacle mounted on the top of the housing. A lever pivotally mounted on the movable slide is connected to a metering device in the storage receptacle and a single gum ball is caused to be discharged from said receptacle into the dogs mouth upon return of the slide and dog to the rest position whereby the commodity is continuously displayed in an inviting manner to attract another customer.

The present invention also contemplates the incorporation of certain novel features of the dispensing device into game devices utilizing an animated figure which is likewise actuated by a slide having rectilinear, reciprocal motion for receiving and discharging game pellets.

The invention will be better understood and additional objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate practical embodiments of the device. It is to be understood, however, that the invention may take other forms and that all such modifications or variations within the scope of the ap-- pended claims, which will occur to persons skilled in the art, are included in the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the dispensing device, the housing being broken away to show internal structure;

Figure 2 is a sectional view showing in particular the actuating mechanism for the animated figure, taken on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view showing the mechanism for feeding a gum ball to the animated figure, taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4' is a side view of the mechanism for actuating the animated figure in a dispensing operation;

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the metering device;

Figure 6 is a front view of a portion of a chute for receiving coins;

Figure 7 is a sectional view of the coin chute, taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a side elevational view of a modification showing a game device employing a movable animated figure for receiving and discharging game pellets;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary elevational view showing feeding means for game pellets taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a sectional view showing the actuating mechanism for the animated figure, taken on the line 10--10 of Figure 8;

Figure 11 is a side elevational view showing the animated figure in a pellet discharge position; and

Figure 12 is a fragmentary top plan view of the game board taken on the line 12-12 of Figure 8.

.Referring first to Figure 1, the operating mechanism of the present device is mounted in a housing 12 having side walls 14, end walls 15, and a lid or top Wall 17 which may or may not be removable. The two side walls 14 and the front end wall preferably have transparent panels 18 therein so that the movements inside the housing can be observed by the customer.

Structure interiorly of the housing 12 comprises a bottom wall 16 having an integral upstanding flange 19 on one end and an upturned lip 19a on its opposite end and the remaining two sides. When the housing is seated on the bottom Wall 16, the wall 15 fits exteriorly of flange 19 but the remaining walls fit interiorly of the flanges 19a. Supported on the bottom wall 16 is a platform or supporting plate 20 having vertical leg portions 21 and a cut-out portion 22 in its platform, Figure 2. Secured to the front leg 21 is a bracket 24 having a horizontal arm 25, the top surface of which formsa shelf portion. A second bracket 27, also secured to the leg 21 of the platform 20, has an inclined cam surface 28. A compartment 30 is formed between the front leg 21 of the platform 20 and the front wall 15 of the housing for receiving coins passing through the machine, and a container 31 is preferably seated in the compartment 30 to receive the coins for convenience in removing the coins from the device.

Mounted on the top surface of the platform 20 for rectilinear motion is a slide 33 having slots 34 and 34a, Figure 2, and an aperture 35, Figure 1. One side edge of the slide 33 is cut away at 36, Figure 2, to form a shoulder portion 37, and a screw 38 adapted to be engaged by the shoulder portion 37 projects from the platform to form a stop for the slide 33 in its movement to the left. Also, a screw 38a is secured to the platform 20 in a predetermined, position so as to protrude from slot 34 and to engage the forward edge of the slot when the slide is in its left-hand position. The screws 38. and 38a may be provided with eccentric heads and form adjustable stops for the. slide 33. The forward end of slide 33 is bent upwardly to form a lip 39- and a small bracket 40 is secured to the upper surface of the slide forming a pocket 41; between said bracket and the lip 39. The slide 33 is provided with a transverse slot 42, Figure 2, communicatingwith pocket 41 between the bracket 40 and the lip 39,

and the slot is of a width so that a coinC of predetermined denomination will fall readily therethrough.

An animated figure 45 is secured to a horizontal arm 47 having a slot 48 receiving a vertical stationary pin 49 integrally mounted on a lug-50 on the platform 20. The animated figure 45 is shown herein as resembling a dog, but it may take other shapes which would be especially of interest to children. A post 54, secured to the dog 45 and extending downwardly through aperture 35 in the slide and cut-away portion 22 in the platform 20, carries a spring 55 which is tensioned between the bottom surface of the slide 33 and a head 55a on the post 54. The dog 45 is normally held in an upright position by the spring 55 but may be tipped upon compression of the spring 55. However, it will immediately resume its vertical position when released, the aperture 35 in the slide 33 being somewhat larger than the diameter of the post to permit the dog 45 to tip.

As best seen in Figures 3 and 4, the dog 45 has an enlarged mouth 56 for receiving a gum ball G. The bottom wall of the mouth 56 is recessed and inclined downwardly so that in a vertical position of the dog a gum ball will remain therein and will not roll out until the dog is tipped forwardly. The dog is normally in the positions shown in Figures 1 and 3, but when the slide 33 is moved to the right, the post 54 is engaged by the Walls of aperture 35 to move the dog and arm 47 along therewith. Arm 47 pivots around pin 49 and slides thereon whereby the dog 45 swings with the arm 47 to face the front wall of the housing in a position at right angles to its rest position. As the dog 45 approaches its position at right angles to its rest position, the head of post 54 engages cam surface 28 and further movement of the slide to the right causes the post 54 and dog 45 to tip forwardly as seen in Figure 4. The ball then rolls from the dogs mouth to a customer delivery chute 57 extending to the exterior of the housing.

Slide 33 is guided in rectilinear motion by means of a guide pin 60 extending through the platform 20 and through slot 34a in the slide. Also guided for rectilinear motion on the pin 60 and spaced from the slide 33 by a sleeve 61 on the pin 60 is an auxiliary slide 63. The slide 63 has a slot 64. for engaging the guide pin 60 and also has a transverse opening65, Figure 2, adapted to be aligned above slot 42 in slide 33 when the parts are in rest position, one edge of the transverse opening 65 being bent downwardly to form a dog or a lug 66. Connected to the auxiliary slide 63 is a handle 67 slidable through an aperture in the front wall 15 and also slidable through a bracket 68. A spring 69 is mounted on the handle 67 between the bracket 68 and auxiliary slide 63 and urges the handle and slide to the left. The auxiliary slide 63 is also urged to the left by a spring 70 having one end connected to the slide 63 and its other end connected to a post 71 secured to platform 20.

The coin chute is designated by the numeral 75, Figure l, and comprises a passageway for coins C of a predetermined denomination from the exterior of the housing to a point vertically aligned with transverse opening 65 in the auxiliary slide 63 and slot 42 in slide 33 when the two slides are in their rest positions. The coin C is necessary to. effect an operative connection between the handle 67 and the slides, and when there is no coin in the machine the handle 67 and slide 63 are free to move relative to the slide 33 without producing any result. A coin dropped through the chute 75 falls through the aligned opening 65 and slot 42 and comes to rest with the edge of the coin on the horizontal arm 25 in a standing position to extend through slot 42 and into opening 65 to lock the slides 33 and 63 together. When the handle 67 is pulled to the right with the coin in the aforementioned position the slide 63 pulls the slide 33 with it to rotate and tip the dog and deposit the gum ball in the customers delivery chute 57.

In Figure 4, the handle 67 has been pulled to the right so that the dog is approaching one of its limits of movement. The handle and slides must be moved slightly farther to cause the dog to release the gum ball from its mouth, at which time the coin C will be moved beyond the edge of the M11125. The coin will lock the two slides together as long as tension is applied to the handle 67, but as soon as the handle is released or moved slightly to the left, the coin will fall into the coin container 31. Both springs 69. and 70. operate to return, the slide 63 and handle mechanism to the restposition, and in the return movement, after the coin has. fallen into the container 31, the lug 66 on auxiliary slide 63 engages lip 39 of the slide 33 to push the slide 33 ahead of it.

The coin chute 75. communicates with a slot 77 adjacent the top of the front wall 15 of the housing for insertion of a coin of predetermined denomination, the chute being held in aligned position with the slot 77 by means of a bracket member 76 secured to the front wall 15 of the housing. The upper portion 78 of the chute is turned to receive a coin flatwise, and, as seen in Figures 6 and 7, has an opening 79 in one wall. Flanges 80 are provided on each side of the opening 79 and are of predetermined length to retain a coin of the desired denomination. Any smaller coins or slugs will fall out of the opening 79 and be rejected, as shown in Figure 7, the coin slot 77 being of a width to prevent insertion of coins larger than the desired denomination.

The top wall of the housing 12 has an opening 83 to receive a container 84 for holding a supply of gum balls to be fed to the dispensing mechanism, best seen in Figures 1 and 3. A horizontal plate 85 is secured to flange 19 and has mounted thereon a stationary member 86. A rod 87 is threaded in the top of members 86 and extends upwardly through the top portion of the container, not shown. Suitable mechanism, not shown, is provided for locking the container in place relative to the rod 87. A metering wheel 88 rotatably mounted on member 86 has a plurality of notches 89, Figure 5, in itsfperipheral edge. The metering wheel 88 is spaced from the plate 85 and has a plurality of apertures 90 for receiving individual gum balls G therein. The plate 85 has an aperture 92, Figure 3, located so that the apertures 90 in the metering wheel will pass thereover to deposit individual gum balls therein as the metering-wheel rotates. An outlet tube 93 extends downwardly from the aperture 92 and is adapted to deposit the gum balls in a downwardly inclined trough 94 which in turn is adapted to deposit the gum in the dogs mouth. Secured to the rod 87 in a stationary position over the outlet aperture 92 is a plate 95 which serves to prevent the weight of the gum balls stacked over the opening from wedging and blocking the outlet aperture 92. As the metering wheel rotates, the apertures 90 therein pick up single gum balls and pass under plate 95 to deposit the gum one at a time into aperture 92.

An oscillating lever arm having right angular end portions 101 and 102 provides an operative connection between the metering wheel 88 and the slide 33. As best seen in Figure 2, the end portion 101 of the lever 100 has a slot 103 and is pivoted on top of platform 20 by pin 104. A pin 106 secured to slide 33 engages the side walls of the slot- 103 to reciprocate the lever arm 100 as the slide 33 moves back and forth in dispensing operations. The upper right angular portion 102 of the lever arm 100 is pivotally mounted on a pin 108 secured to plate 85 and aligned with the pin 104 in platform 20. A pin 109 secured to end portion 102 of the lever arm 100 extends through a slot 110 in the plate 85, Figure 5, and is connected to a lever arm 112 pivoted on member 86. The arm 112 carries a spring pawl finger 114 engaging notches 89 in metering wheel 88 to ratchet the metering wheel around in-a clockwisedirection. A second spring pawl finger 115 has one end anchored to the plate 85 and engages notches 89 on the opposite side of metering wheel 88 to prevent counterclockwise movement of the metering wheel. Movementof the handle 67 and slide 33 to the right in coin-locked position rotates the lever arm 100 and arm 112 in a counterclockwise direction, Figure 5, whereby the finger 114 moves around to engage the next notch 89 and assumes the dotted line position of Figure 5. Return of the slides to rest position under the action of springs 69 and 70 reciprocates the lever arms 100 and 112 whereby spring finger 114 rotates the metering wheel so that another aperture 90 will be aligned with outlet aperture 92. A gum ball will thereby drop into outlet tube 93 and trough 94 to deposit the gum ball in the dogs mouth for a subsequent operation.

In operation of the device, a coin of predetermined denomination is inserted in the coin slot 77. The coin passes down the coin chute 78 and falls partially through opening 64 and slot 42 in the slides 63 and 33, respectively, coming to rest on shelf 25. The slides 33 and 63 are thereby locked together by the coin and outward movement of the handle 67 rotates the arm 47 around the pin 49 and causes the upstanding dog to pivot through a quarter turn and bow to deposit a gum ball in the delivery chute 57. The coin C moves beyond the end of shelf 25 as the dog deposits the gum in the chute 57, and, as there is no spring to return slide 33, the coin C drops into coin container 31 as soon as tension is relieved on handle 67; The lever arm 100 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction as the .slides 33 and 63 move to the right, andreturn movement'of the slides to their rest positions under the action of springs 69 and 70 causes lever arm 100 to rotate in a clockwise direction whereby spring finger 114, rotates the metering wheel to a new position to release a gum ball G down the outlet tube 93 and reload the begging dog for a subsequent dispensing operation.

Certain features of the hereinbefore described embodiment may be incorporated in a game device shown in Figures 8-12. The game device comprises a base board 119 supported in inclined position by feet 120. The base 119 has side walls 121 and a plurality of apertures 122 in its top surface and located to represent the pattern of set pins of a bowling alley. A chute 123 having tapered side walls 124 is pivotally mounted on the base 119 by pivot pin 124a to direct game pellets P, such as marbles, toward the apertures 122. A bracket 125 is secured on the base 119 and has vertical legs 126 provided with apertures 127 and a horizontal portion 128 provided with a diagonal slot 129, Figure 10. Overlying the horizontal portion of the bracket 125 for rectilinear motion is a slide 132 comprising a top wall 133, a right angular side wall 134, and end walls 135, the slide engaging the horizontal portion of the bracket 125 and being held in parallel alignment therewith and for rectilinear motion thereover by a guide rod 136 secured to the end walls 135 of the slide and slidable in the apertures 127 in the end walls 126 of the bracket. A pair of pins 137 and 138, Figure 10, are secured to the side wall 134 of the slide and an upstanding pin 139 is secured to the top wall 133 of the slide.

An animated figure 142, likewise shown as resembling a dog, has an enlarged mouth 143 which is inclined downwardly and recessed to receive and hold a game pellet P therein when the dog is in an upright begging position.

The dog'is carried in a U-shaped bracket 145 and is pivotally mounted for tipping or bowing movement relative thereto by pin 146, the bracket 145 being rotatively mounted on the bracket by pin 147, Figure 11. The bottom edge of the dog is provided with an extended or enlarged portion 148 forming a shoulder 149, Figure 11, for abutment with the bracket to limit the pivotal movement of the dog on the pin 146. Extending downwardly from the enlarged portion 148 is a post or pin 150.

Secured to the bracket 145 is an arm 151 having a slot 152 extending from its free end. In assembled relation the upstanding pin 139 on the slide 132 engages slot 152. Movement of the slide 132 to the right pivots the dog and its bracket 145 in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 10. When the slide 132 is moved to its limit of movement to the left, Figure 8, the dog is faced transversely of the base member 119, and when the slide 132 has been moved to its limit of travel to the right the dog will have pivoted through ninety degrees to face the front or apertured end of the base 119. As the dog begins its movement to a pellet discharge position, the post moves into diagonal slot 129 whereby further rotation of the dog causes it to tip as the post moves farther into the slot, the edge of the slot 129 closest to the dog serving as a cam. The game pellet is released from the dogs mouth as the dog assumes its inclined bowing position facing the front of the base 119. The game pellet falls into chute 123 and is directed toward the apertures 122 as it rolls down the inclined base.

Prior to movement of the slide 132 to the right for discharging the game pellet, the operator pivots the chute 123 to aim it at any of the apertures 122 desired, preferably attempting to fill the farthermost row of apertures first.

A lever 154 is pivotally mounted on a horizontal arm 155 secured to an upright support 156. The upper portion of the support 156 is tubular in shape to receive therein game pellets from an upper compartment 157. The compartment 157 may comprise a funnel shaped container, as shown in Figure 8, or may comprise an extension of the tubular support 156, as seen in Figure 11. The support 156 has a discharge opening 158 in one side thereof, and a Wall 159 is provided at the bottom of the opening. The support 156 has a pair of small bores 160 and 161, the bore 160 communicating with discharge opening 158. Mounted in an aperture 162 adjacent the top of the lever 154 is an ejector 163 having an ejecting finger 164 slidable in aperture 160 and a guide finger 165 slidable in aperture 161. A trough 166 is adapted to receive the game pellets from the opening 158 in the tube 156.

The bottom portion of lever 154 is disposed in the path of pins 137 and 138, and to operate the game device the slide 132 is reciprocated with a rectilinear movement. If desired, the device may be mounted in a housing and employ a coin lock mechanism, not shown, operable by a handle extending exteriorly of the housing. In Figure 8, the slide 132 is shown in its extreme left-hand position whereby the dog 142 has been pivoted by means of arm 151 to a position facing transversely of the base. In this position the dogs mouth is aligned with the trough 166 to receive a game pellet P, as shown in Figure 9, and also the lever 154 has been pivoted by engagement with pin 138 so that ejecting finger 164 extends a substantial distance into aperture 160. In this position of the mechanism, the finger 164 holds back pellets from moving down the tube portion 156.

Movement of the slide 132 to its right-hand limit of movement pivots the dog by means of arm 151 and tips the dog as the post 150 rides in slot 129 to the bowing position shown in Figure 11 to discharge the pellet from the dogs mouth. In this position the finger 164 is moved to the left and permits a pellet to drop down and rest on the wall 159. Then, as the slide is moved to the left after the pellet in the dogs mouth has been discharged,

7 the end of finger 164 engages the lowermost pellet in the tube 156 and pushes it into trough 166 for reloading the dogs mouth, which has, at this stage of the operation, returned to its sidewise begging position to receive the pellet. The device is then loaded and ready for the next operation.

Having now described my invention and inwhat manner the same may be used, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. An article transfer mechanism forthe amusement of children comprising a slide member, a figure of a childs pet, such as a dog, seated on said slide and having an open mouth to transfer an article from one position to another, a pin in said dog projecting downwardly through said slide and capable of tilting movement in said slide, aspring on said pin normally holding said dog in upright position on said slide, a lever arm projecting laterally from said dog, and stationary members adjacent said slide engaging said lever arm and pin to turn said dog on the axis of said pin and tilt said dog when said dog is advanced by movement of said slide.

2. An article transfer mechanism and amusement device comprising a reciprocating slide member, an article holder on said slide member, a headed pin on said holder projecting through said slide member and capable of tilting movement relative to said slide member, a coil spring on said pin under compression between said slide member and the head of said pin, said spring permitting tilting movement of said pin and holder and being operative to restore the holder to an upright position, a lever arm projecting from said holder and laterally from said slide member, a stationary member engageable with said lever arm to turn said holder on the axis of said pin by reciprocation of said slide member, and a stationary member engageable with said pin to tilt said pin and holder by said reciprocation of said slide member, said holder being arranged to discharge an article held thereby when so tipped.

3. An article transfer mechanism and amusement device comprising a horizontal reciprocating slide member, an upstanding article holder on the top side of said slide member, a headed pin in the bottom of said holder projecting downwardly through said slide member and capable of tilting movement in said slide member, a coil spring on said pin under compression between the bottom side of said slide member and the head of said pin to maintain said holder normally in said upstanding position, a lever arm on said holder projecting laterally from said slide, a stationary member engageable with said lever arm to turn said holder on the axis of said pin when said slide member is reciprocated, and a stationary member engageable with said pin head to' tilt said holder to an article discharge position at a predetermined point in the reciprocating and turning movements of said holder.

4. An article transfer mechanism and amusement device comprising a horizontal reciprocating slide member, an upstanding article holder on the top side of said slide member, a headed pin in the bottom of said holderprojecting downwardly through said slide member and capable of tilting movement in said slide member, a coil spring on said pin under compression between the bottom side of said slide member and the head of said pin to maintain said holder normally in' said upstanding position, a lever arm on said holder projecting laterally from said slide, a stationary member engageable with said lever arm to turn said holder on the axis of said pin when said slide member is reciprocated in one direction, a stationary member engageable with said pin head to tilt said holder to an article discharge position at a predetermined point in the reciprocating and turning movements of said holder, supply means for holding a plurality of said articles, a gravity chute for delivering said articles from said supply means to said holder, and means actuated by movement of said slide member in the opposite direction to release an article from said supply means into said chute.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 453,561 Claflin June 2, 1891 674,601 Cody May 21, 1901 1,160,557 Wilton Nov. 16, 1915 1,490,365 Du Grenier l Apr. 15, 1924 1,610,717 Teabout Dec. 14, 1926 1,656,272 Ekstein Jan. 17, 1928 FOREIGN PATENTS 336,578 Germany May 6, 1921 

